No free lunch, or free roads, either

Now it's documented. By far most Pennsylvanians agree that the Keystone State's roads and bridges badly need repair. But more than half of them don't want to pay for it.

Now it's documented. By far most Pennsylvanians agree that the Keystone State's roads and bridges badly need repair. But more than half of them don't want to pay for it.

AAA Mid-Atlantic surveyed residents last year, finding that 88 percent of Pennsylvanians believe the state's highways need work. But fewer than half, 44 percent of respondents, said they would be willing to pay $2.50 more a week to pay for that work. That $2.50 is what Gov. Tom Corbett's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission reckoned it would cost the average driver to cover the cost of needed road and bridge projects.

The AAA survey found 62 percent of Pennsylvanians oppose raising the gasoline tax, 67 percent don't like a new fee on the number of miles driven and 66 percent oppose a higher state sales tax that would be used for transportation purposes. A whopping 88 percent opposed using gas taxes or vehicle registration fees to pay for non-highway uses like mass transit subsidies.

This is denial at work, acknowledging that there is a problem yet rejecting sensible methods for addressing it.

What can you buy for $2.50? Two thirds of a gallon of gas. Half of a cup of designer latte. Half of a pack of cigarettes. Two sodas from a vending machine. A burger and fries from a fast-food franchise. A bottle of water, whose contents would be free from a faucet.

How many of these things do drivers buy on a regular basis out of their pocket change, without thinking too hard about it? And yet they would resent paying $2.50 a week to make sure every road was smoothly paved and well marked and every bridge was strong and safe. This represents an important, long-term investment not only for themselves but for every motorist.

Instead, the survey results indicate that people don't mind spending their money a bit at a time, but they don't like the idea of being required to put out an additional $132 per year per driver, even for vastly improved roads and bridges.

The Associated Press last week reported that Corbett's $2 billion transportation funding plan would include an uncapping of the state's oil franchise tax, which accounts for about 20 cents of the 39 cents in state taxes on each gallon of gasoline purchased in Pennsylvania.

Based on the AAA survey, he'll have a public relations challenge on his hands. We encourage the governor to persevere. Pennsylvania badly needs infrastructure improvements in keeping with a modern, progressive economy.